Fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has continued for a third day in the northern city of Aleppo, driving tens of thousands of residents out of their homes.

A curfew declared by the Syrian Army Operations Command came into force on Thursday at 1:30pm (10:30 GMT) in the city’s Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zeid neighbourhoods before Syrian government forces began what they called “targeted operations” against SDF positions in those areas.

The SDF said at least eight civilians have been killed since fighting broke out on Tuesday, while government officials said at least five civilians have been killed and dozens more injured.

Large numbers of people have been displaced. Many have left on foot through humanitarian corridors opened by the Syrian army for civilians to leave flashpoint areas. They carried what they could, unsure of when or if they would return.